Bean harves mr



Sept. 8, 1931." R. L; PARK R e. l8,183

BEAN HARVE S TER Original'F'iled Nov. '7, 1925 v 5 Shets-Sheet 1 R. L.PARK BEAN HARVESTER Sept. 8, 1931.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 7, 1925 R. L. PARK BEAN HARVESTERSept. 8, 1931.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. '7, 1925 I attoweqo.

3? EV m MNQ \1 Sept. 8, 1931.

R. L. PARK Re. 18,183

BEAN HARVESTER Original Filed 7, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwumvtm.B.L.Z?ark v k) I i r I I anon" a, o

Sept. 8, 1931.

R. L. PARK BEAN HARVESTER Original Filed Nov. 7, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Reissued Sept. 8, 1931 um'rso STATES rArEN'r OFFICE.

aonnn'r rmx; or DARZDEN, Tmimssefi BEAN mamas am in. 1,710,129, um smmm1c, rm, Serial No. 0,040, ms: KWflf 7,19% lpplfcatidn' for reissue fledJanuary to, 1931. Serial No. 512,326.

This invention relates to harvestin machines, particularly to thosedesigned or use in harvesting beans, and'has for its object theprovision of a novel device of this char- 3 acter particularly welladapted for use in harvesting soy beans or the like lanted in cornfields and also capable of arvesting beans planted in rows and in fieldswhere there is no rowing corn,-the device being cab pable, in the latterinstance, of harvesting two rows simultaneously, 7

An important object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter which will not only" act to harvest the beans, but

13 which will" also thrash them-and winnow them so that when the aredischarged from the machine they" wil be in a thoroughly clean conditionready for commercial use.

Another object of the invention is topro- M vide' a; machine of thischaracter which is provided with steering, means and movably mounted winI means cooperating therewith whereby t e operator walking along behindthe machine, which may be drawn by any suitable means such as draftanimals,

may, by manipulating proper handles-or levers, guide the device in suchmanner as to harvest and kick out the bean" plants from between hills ofcorn without injury to the latter. V p

Still another oliject is to provide a device of this character providedwithnoyel'means for raising and lowering the harvesting mechanism withrespect to the ground traveled over, this adiustment beingfor purposeswhich may be necessaryas circumstances will dictate.

An additional object is to provide a device of this character in whichthe power mechanism for operatingvthe thrashing device and winnowinmeans will be operated by movement oft e ground engagin H wheels overthe surface, it being consequent y unnecessary to provide any en 'nerorother auxiliary (le- A still'further object is toprovide means wherebythe u per portions of the: bean plants'a're bent aterally so asto extendsubstantiall horizontally within'the machine during t e thrashingoperation, thereby makvice for effecting rivingrof any of the partsr ingit unnecessary touti-lize bottom 0 enings for the reception of theplants throng which thrashed beans n t escape.-

An additionalo ject is to provide a device of this character which willbe comparatively simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to operateand control,-posi ti-ve inaction, elli-v cient and durable in service,and a general im rovement in the art. r, e

ith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the detailsof construction, and the arran 1 went andcombination of parts to be herein"- after more fully described andclaimed, and illustrated in the accompanying.dra-wi11gs,-in i9 ,e .v

Figure 1 isaside elevation ot-the complete machine.-

Figure 21s a vertical-longitudinal section therethrough, taken on line2--2," Fig.- 4: 4,

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 33,'Fig. 4';

lis a plan view. I

1 uretris ayertieal cross sectiontak'en on the llne 5+5-,Fig. 3.

Figure 6' is a fragmentary; planview showing thewinnowing mechanismL- v'ferringmore particularly tothe draw- I; have shown the device ascomprising lugs, a suitable relatively stationary supporting framedesignated broadly bythe-numeral 10, which tramemay consist of anydesired ornecessary number of bars or other 'supportingelements arrangedin any referred reli1'-' tion and secured together y' any desiredmeans,

Frame 19 carries a-housing 11- the vfrontof which is formed with ahoriza'nltal inlet opening- 11'- which extends to the outer side of thehousing and thence rearwarkilyf along at said outer sideina'substantially horizontal direction, the back portion of; theinlet'opening merge into an upwardlyinclihed enlarged extension of' theopening shdwn at 42; The bottom of the housing is preferably" madein the'form of-atrough as shown-at 46,, this trough extending rearwardly? andhav'-" ing its rear portion'inclinedmarwardly"and upwardly as shown-at-46;'. It iS tObe understood that frame 10 can carry two housings 10such as heretofore described, one of them being located at each side ofthe machine.

engaging wheels 15 and a sprocket 16 loose thereon and adapted to bekeyed theretofor rotation therewith by means of a clutch deviceincluding a shiftable member 17 engaged by a shifting fork 18 at one endof a pivoted lever-19; which-projects beyond the rear end of themachine.

Mounted at the forward end of the frame IQ-is a suitably mountedvertical shaft or spindle 20 here represented as rigid with the arms ofa yoke 21. Loosely mounted in this shaft or spindle isa sleeve 22forming part of a bracket 23 on the forward end of a. stub tongue or 24.Theshaft or spindle termiiiatesin a yoke 25 within which is mounted'thefront wheel 26. Connected with the yoke 21 is a suitable draft devicewhich is here represented as including a support 27 connected "withmtongue, draw bar or the as shown at 24.

like I norally im'licated at 2 8. The wheel 26 0 coursesupports theforward end of the machine -andthis wheelis capable of turned so as todraw the device along in the direction desired. Obviously, if thetongue-or draw bar 28 be moved to one side or the other, the yoke 25carrying the front wheel will be correspondingly moved.

It is of course desirable that the body 9 containing the mechanism to bedescribed, be vertically adjustable with respect to the surface traveledover, and for this reason I have pivoted the bar 24 to the rear end ofthe body Secured to the bar is an upstanding member 29 upon which ispivoted at 30, a lever 31 extending to'the rear upper portion of themachine, the rear end carrying a chain 32, a selected link of which maybe enn a supporting hook 33 whereby an desired adyusted pos1t1on of thebody may be efiected. I Obviously, this will provide means for adjustingthe height of the body of the machineitself with respect to the surfacetraveled over. This is true because lever i as 31 is pivoted to the bodyat 31", and the forward truck supports the body from point and point31'.

Journaled transversely of the machine at substantially the centralortion thereof is a shaft 34 carrying a sproc et 35about which istrained a chain 36' peripherally engaging the sprocket 16 on the rearaxle of the machine. Journaled transversely of the frame of the machinein advance of the shaft 34 and at .a'lower level are other shafts 37carrying sprockets 36 about which is trained a chain 38 whichperipherally engages a sprocket 39 on the shaft 34. Obviously, when theclutch mechanism is thrown in to lock the sprocket 16 onto the rear axle14 the shaft 34 will be driven and this will operate to drive the shafts37. Secured upon each shaft 37 is a pair of supporting members 40provided at their edges with short lengths of chain 41 which willfact asflails in the manner to be The upper rear ends of the inclined portions46 of the troughs 46 are adapted to deliver material to the winnowingmechanism designated generally by the numeral 47 located at the rearportion of the machine. Gathering arms 44 are extended forwardly .fromthe outer sides of the respective housings 11 and each of them has itsforward end curved upwardly and laterally as indicated trained aboutguides 51 located at various spaced points at theforward ortion of themachine, the lower stretch of t e chain passing along over the bottom ofthe associated or adjacent end member and upwardlyalong the bottom ofthe associated trough 46. It will be observed that there are two of thechains and that each one carries a plurality of lugs or other equivalentmembers 52 which will operate to drag the bean vines or branches orportions thereof upwardly and rearwardly along the trough fordischarging them' into the shaking and winnowing mechanism to bedescribed in detail. The shaft 48 carries an additional sprocket 53(Fig. 4) about which is engaged a chain 54 enga 'ng a sprocket 54' to becarried by the sha veyor mechanism defined by the trough and chains 50will be operated when the machine is drawn along the ground.

Mounted at the rear portion of the machine is a shaker 56 which has ascreen bot-v 7 tom 57 This shaker is mounted on hangers 58 suitablyconnected to the frame, and

34 of Figure 2 whereby the conmovement of the shaker is effected bymeans I of a lever 59 pivoted at 60 and having one end disposed in thepath of movement of an arm 61 on thelshaft 48. At its other end, the Vlever is provided with an elongated slot 62 engaging a pin 63 or thelike projecting from the shaker. Coil springs 64 are provided whichnormally act to hold the shaker at one limit of its movement and toreturn it to normal positions after actuation by engagement of the arm61 with the lever 59.

Suitably mounted beneath the shaker 56 is a grid member 65 which isformed of a plurality of rods spaced apart a sufficient distance toprevent beans from passing between them while permitting trash and othermatter such as fragments of pods and vines to pass through and bedischarged. The trash can be removed manually the beans passing 6 togiid65 and passing thence to hopper 66. l ke hopper may of course beconstructed in such manner astohave discharge means for permitting theremoval of beans accumulat i, therein.

dly mounted at the forward ends of the si es 11,as shown at 67, areoutwardly =w'ingable upright boards or side members fisca'n ing wings69. Side members 68 are adiust al ilc by rods 69'. However, one ele*ment 69 be idle so that adjacent side elements 68,v 9 may be adjusted byhandles 7 3, 01' swung to the best position for deflecting the vinestoward the machine. Pivotally connected with the side members 68, asshown at 70, is a link 71 which extends toward the center of the machineand which is connected at its inner end with a longitudinally extendingbar 72 provided at its rear end with handles 73. Intermediate its endsbar 72 if ivoted to the link 71 so that by grasping t e handles 73 andshifting the bar 72 to one side or the other, the link 71 will be 1operated to swing the board member 68 and guide wing 69 inwardlyoroutwardly as the case may be.

In the operation of the machine the forward end 45 of each arm 44 isadapted to extend along the inner side of a row of bean plants so thatsaid plants will be received in upstanding positions between arm 44 andwing 69. In order that the upper portions of the bean plants may becaused properly to enter the housing 11 the operator swings the wing 69intermittently so as to bend the plants over the adjacent arm 44 andallow the upper portions thereof to enter the front portion of theopening 11'. Thereafter, as the machine moves forwardly, the upperportions of these plants will remain in substantially. horizontalpositions within the housing and within the side portion of opening 11'as will be apparent by referring to Fig. 5 wherein the plant has beenindicated at P. Thus the upper portions of the plants, while held insubstantially horizontal positions will be beaten by the chains 41rotating with the member 40 and the pods will be broken open. The beansliberated therefrom will gravitate onto the hopper like bottom 46 andthen be carried rearwardly and upwardly by the lugs 52 on chain 50.These lugs will scrape the beans onto the shaker 56 which is movedrapidly back and forth by the action of member 61 on shaft 48, thismember engaging against lever 59 which, in turn, is pivotally andslidably connected with the shaker. After the plants have been beaten orthrashed as described, the upper portions thereof will withdraw throughthe rearwardly and upwardly inclined enlarged portion 42 of opening 11'.

When the device is used for harvesting and thrashing two adjacent rowsof beans it is obvious that the board members 68 and wings} 69 should befastened open to the side of the harvester, the link 71 being disengagedfrom the member, 68, the elements 71, 72 and 73 being removed. When itis intended to harvest beans such as soy beans, which are commonlyplanted between the hills of corn in a corn field, the device is drivenalong between successive rows of corn and from time to time theoperator-manipulates the handle W5 7 3 to move the bar 72 assumed to bepivoted at its forward end, and lateral movement of the handle 73results in opening or closing member 69, for moving into the pathof themachine, the bean vines growing-between hills of corn.

From the foregoingdeseription and astudy of the drawings, it willbeapparent that I have thus provided a comparatively simple andconsequently relatively inexpensive machine by means of which-beans ofvarious kinds may be harvested regardless-of w-heth er they are growing.in rows ina-field or whether they are. growing between corn plants inhills in a corn field, means being provided whereby beans growingbet-weelzi hills of corn may be-quiekly and easily gathered in withoutinjury to the corn plants. It will be observed that ample provision hasbeen 'made for-all adjnstment necessary for the proper action and it is'believed that .the constmotion, operation and advantages will bereadilyapparen-t'to one skilled-in the art-without further explanation.

While I have-shown and described the {pr ferred embodimentoftheinvention, it'should be understood that I- reserve the right tomake such changes in the form, eonstruetion and arrangement of vparts aswill'not depart from the spirit of the invention or the seopeof thesubjoined claims.

1. In amachine of the class described, a wheel supported frame,vertically positioned extension members hingedlhpon thesides of theframe,- at the forward portions thereof, outwardly extending Wingscarried the lower portions of the extension members, a link pivoted toone of these members and .5 extending inwardly to the power line of themachine, a le'vero-perablefronrtherear portion of themachine andextending-terminily to a point between thewiings, midwadevioe forconnecting the lever with points on the link spaced from the innerendthereof.

2.- In a bean harvester the combination with a portable housinghavingfrontand side inlet openings, of thrashing me-ans within thehousing, and means for deflecting bean plants laterally into the fromand side open-- ings for engagement by thong means.

3. In a bean harvester the combination with-a portable lmusing havingasubstantially horizontal opening extending laterally m mg" means toposition the uplper ,sideiii-the, sent r the housing mammal-(11 withinsaid side, of means esaeadingrmai dly fromjthe housi for memes: one sideof a. row of an plants, and means extending forwardly and movableIat'erally relativeto the housing for Behdingthe 'per portionsof theplants in taerow ver t e first named means to bring their upper portionsinto substantially horizontal' positions forentry into the front andside openings.

4. In 'a bean hamster the combination with 'a' portable housing havin asubstantially'horizontal opening exten mg laterally one-"side'in thefront' of the housing and rearwardly within said side,of meansextendingforwardly froui the hdnsin for movementaldng one*si"de of a row beanplants, means extending forwardly and movalile laterally relative to thehousing for bendin the'u per portions of the plants in the rdw' over tfirst named means to bring their upper portions into substantiallyhorimiss ellings, and meanswitlii'n the housing iorthrashin the toportions of the plants While exten su antially horizontally within thehousing.

ii In a beanharvester the'combination with a portable housing havin asubstantially horizontal opening exten mg laterally new one side'in thefront of the housing and rearwardly within said; side, of meansextmiing' forwardly from the housing for movement along one side of'arowof bean plants,- ineans extending forwardly and movable laterallyrelative to the housing for hending'the upper portions of the plants inthe row over the first named means to bring their upper portions intosubstantially horizontal positions for entry into the front and sideopenings, and means within the housing for thrashing the to portions ofthe plants while extended 'su stantially" horizontally within thehousing, the back portion of the side a ni being enlarged and inclinedupwa y axis rearwardly to permit free withd'rawqil ofthe top'portions ofthe plants after leaving the thrashing means.

6-. In a bean harvester the combination witha portable housing having asubstantiall horizontal opening extending laterally int front thereoffrom one sideand rearwerdly within said side, and thrashing mechanism inthe housing, of a gathering member extending. forwardly from the side ofthe housing in line with the bottom of the opening, and forwardlyextending means for bendmy plants of a row laterally over thegatherportions thereof "substantially horizonta for entry into thehousing throughthe front and side P v A -75 In a witha'portahleharvester the combination housing having a substantially horizontalopenin extendmg' laterally in'the front thereof fro -1 one side andrearwardly within said side, and thrashing mech in the housin of agatherin member extendi forward y from the si e of the housing in linewith the bottom of the o ning, forwardly extending means for ben ingplants of a row laterally over the gatherin' means to position the u perportions thereo substantially horizonta ly for entry into the housingthrou the front andside openings, and means on er the control of theoperator for actuating the bending means laterally. ROBERT LEE PARK.

3digital pesitions for entry' into the front and V l

